Berklee in the Round (BITR) occurs on the second Tuesday of every month. Each month, a different faculty member selects four to five students and hosts a concert. If possible, they also will choose one special guest (such as a visiting artist or touring songwriter). The event, based on the in-the-round performances at the famous Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee, seats songwriters in a circle, where they take turns playing songs. The audience is seated around the performers, lending an intimate feel.

For singer-songwriter and guitarist Christian Lopez, Nashville, Tennessee, has become a home away from home. It’s where he goes to write, where he rehearses with his band, and where he recorded his debut album and his upcoming album, Red Arrow.

Troy Ramey has an inherent ability to reveal his pain and draw the listener into his music. It is evident on his critically acclaimed debut EP, When the Lights Came, which features the haunting, introspective singles “Rosary” and “Song Man.”

Pom Poms, a female fronted pop-rock duo from L.A., with vocalist Marlene Gold and multi-instrumentalist Billy Mohler, makes an incredible debut to the music world, with their album, Turn You Out. It opens with “GO GO,” an in-your-face rock tune that crosses the boundary into punk. It reminds me of songs by bands like Bikini Kill, Blondie and The Go-Go’s. The third track, “Lost My Head,” is eclectically reminiscent of early Doors stuff. Continue reading “Album Review: Pom Poms – Turn You Out”

Brooklyn-based producer, composer, pianist, DJ and live performer Taylor McFerrin released his first full length LP, Early Riser, in 2014 on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder record label. Taylor’s musical style is equally influenced by the legends of 60s/70s Soul, the kings of the Modern Beat Generation, Golden Era hip-hop, free form jazz and electronic music. By playing all of the instruments on his productions, while also relying heavily on sampling and chopping up his live takes, he has found a sound that seamlessly bridges myriad musical worlds and draws the listener into a constantly shifting audio soundscape. Continue reading “The BIRN Presents Taylor McFerrin and Denitia: Live at The Red Room @ Cafe 939, Saturday, October 14th at 8:00 PM”

ODESZA’s highly anticipated album, A Moment Apart, has finally been released, and it is everything you’ve been hoping for. Staying true to the classic synth sounds and production techniques they are known for, the electro-indie-pop duo, Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, tell an incredibly cohesive story, which radiates an intense feeling of nostalgia. The album truly reflects the group’s artistic development and perspective over the years. The time they took to create A Moment Apart was essential in successfully telling the story, and setting the mood of the album. Continue reading “Album Review: Odesza – A Moment Apart”

Ten years ago, Kentucky native Ben Sollee came to prominence by singing a Sam Cooke song while playing the cello. The NPR sensation was not some backwoods novelty. Sollee’s spare, exultant interpretation of “A Change is Gonna Come” announced the arrival of a relentlessly curious musical soul. In the decade following, Sollee recorded a slew of albums and EPs in a daunting variety of settings. He has played with trance bluesman Otis Taylor, banjo virtuosos Abigail Washburn and Bela Fleck, and has collaborated with Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Continue reading “Ben Sollee and Kentucky Native: Live from the Red Room @ Cafe 939, Friday, Sep 22 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE”